Sussex Day

Sussex Day is the county day for the historic county of Sussex in southern England and is celebrated on 16 June each year to celebrate the rich heritage and culture of Sussex.

The event takes place on St Richard’s Day, the feast day of St Richard of Chichester, Sussex’s patron saint.

The Sussex Charter

Traditionally, at 12 noon every Sussex Day (16 June), the Sussex Charter is read aloud, usually by a town crier, in towns and villages across the county.

For all the people of the ancient kingdom of Sussex!

Let it be known: the 16 June of each and every year shall be known as Sussex Day.

Sussex day shall be celebrated according to the rites and traditions of Sussex.

Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for the maintenance of those boundaries that join to those of our neighbours.

Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for all the environs within those boundaries.

Let it be known, the people of Sussex shall recognise the inshore waters that lie inside a line drawn from Beachy Head, and extending to Selsey Bill as being, the Bay of Sussex.

Let it be known, the people of Sussex will undertake responsibility for the general well being of our neighbours.

Let it be known the people of Sussex shall be guardians of our wildlife.

Let it be known the people of Sussex will, through custom support all local business.

Finally, let it be known, as guardians of Sussex, we all know Sussex is Sussex … and Sussex won’t be druv!

Sussex wunt be druv

(Wunt be druv = won’t be driven)

“𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑥

𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑥 𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 –

𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑢𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙,

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙

𝐼𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 –

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑜 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑥,

𝑈𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 𝑦𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒,

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑥 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑥,

𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑥 𝑤𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑢𝑣!”

W. Victor Cook, 1914

Chalk Path

The image is of Chalk Path (1935) by Eric Ravilious (1903-1942).

Eric Ravilious (1903-1942)